I've seen firsthand how burdensome federal regulations can negatively impact small businesses in the Central Valley. Too often, unelected bureaucrats in Washington impose rules without understanding the challenges they create, making it much harder for small businesses to operate. 

This week my colleagues and I took an important step by passing H.R. 7198, the Prove It Act. This bipartisan, commonsense legislation requires federal regulators to consider the overall effect of a regulation on small businesses when finalizing rules. It also ensures that small businesses can easily access regulatory documents and challenge regulations if they haven't been properly considered. I was proud to cosponsor and vote in favor of this bill which will help our Central Valley small businesses to thrive.     

Congressional internships are a great opportunity to learn more about working in public service. My office is currently accepting applications for winter and spring internships in my Washington, D.C., Hanford, and Bakersfield offices. If you are a college student or have recently graduated, you can visit my website here for more information on how to apply. 

Trying to get an answer from a federal agency can often be a time-consuming and frustrating process. If you ever need help navigating a federal agency, you can visit my website here or call my Hanford office at (559) 460-6070. My team is ready to assist you!

Tratar de obtener una respuesta de una agencia federal a menudo puede ser un proceso frustrante y que requiere mucho tiempo. Si alguna vez necesita ayuda con una agencia federal, puede visitar mi sitio de web aquí o llamar a mi oficina de Hanford al (559) 460-6070. ¡Mi equipo está listo para ayudarte!

Our question this week comes from Jerry in Bakersfield. He asked: 

"My name is Jerry. I live in Bakersfield. Are you going to commit to strengthening Social Security?"

Thanks for your question, Jerry. I do not support efforts to cut Social Security. Millions of seniors depend on Social Security benefits to make ends meet after they retire. It’s a program they’ve contributed to throughout their entire career, and they deserve to receive the benefits they’ve earned. As a government, we have a responsibility to uphold that promise and ensure these benefits continue to be provided.

Since joining Congress, I’ve been committed to strengthening Social Security and ensuring that benefits are accessible to all who have earned them. That’s why I was proud to cosponsor, sign the discharge petition, and vote in favor of H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act. This bipartisan legislation would eliminate both the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset, which currently reduce benefits for retired public service employees including police officers, teachers, and firefighters. These public servants dedicated their careers to our communities, and this bill ensures they receive the full benefits they’ve earned.

It's also important that Congress makes the necessary reforms in order to preserve Social Security for future generations. Without action, Social Security will run out of money in the next decade. While changes are necessary, I do not support efforts that would impact the benefits of retirees or those nearing retirement. The next several years will require careful examination to ensure the program’s long-term sustainability. As your Congressman, I’m committed to finding fair solutions that protect the future of Social Security for all.

Do you have a question about my position on an issue? How the Congress operates? My thoughts on the news of the day?

Send your first name, town, and question to AskDavid@mail.house.gov and I might answer yours right here in one of my weekly newsletters. Make sure to subscribe to my weekly email updates to see if your question was answered!

If you want to share your opinion with me on issues of importance, you can always contact me on my website.

Did you know you can now sign up for texts from my office to stay up to date on my work in Washington D.C.? To sign up to receive updates from me directly to your phone, just text VALADAO to (559) 387-4346 and you will be automatically subscribed. You can also sign up for text alerts using this form here.  

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